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How to Legally Change Your Name in Montana

Filing fee, court, publication rules, official forms, and a free calculator that builds your exact steps. Last verified July 16, 2026.

Quick answer

An adult name change in Montana is filed in the Montana District Court (of the county where you reside) and costs about $170. In Montana, you must publish a notice in a newspaper, and most cases finish in 6–12 weeks. Marriage and divorce name changes usually need no court petition — the certificate or decree is your legal proof.

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Montana name change at a glance

Every figure is verified against Montana District Court and .gov sources.

Cost, court, publication requirement, and timeline for each type of name change in Montana.
Situation	Court	Filing fee	Publication	Timeline
Marriage	No court needed	$0	—	Depends on ID updates
Divorce	Montana District Court (through the Decree of Dissolution under MCA 40-4-108)	$0	Not required	1–4 weeks
Adult petition	Montana District Court (of the county where you reside)	$170	Required	6–12 weeks
Minor child	Montana District Court (of the county where the child resides)	$170	Sometimes	6–12 weeks
Gender identity	Montana District Court (of the county where you reside)	$170	Required (waivable)	6–12 weeks

Choose your situation

Marriage→

Take your spouse's name or hyphenate — usually no court petition needed.

No court petition

Divorce→

Restore your former or maiden name through the divorce decree or a short filing.

$0 · Montana District Court (through the Decree of Dissolution under MCA 40-4-108)

Adult petition→

Court petition to change an adult's name for any reason not tied to marriage or divorce.

$170 · Montana District Court (of the county where you reside)

Minor child→

Petition to change a child's name, with notice or consent rules for both parents.

$170 · Montana District Court (of the county where the child resides)

Gender identity→

Court name change aligned with gender identity, often with publication waivers.

$170 · Montana District Court (of the county where you reside)

The Montana name-change process

Most legal name changes in Montana that aren't tied to a marriage or divorce go through the Montana District Court (of the county where you reside). You file where you live — District Court in the county where you live. The filing fee is $170.

After you file, you publish a legal notice in a newspaper. From filing to a signed order usually takes 6–12 weeks.

Once the judge signs your order, order several certified copies right away — you'll hand one to Social Security, the DMV, and the passport agency, in that order.

For a name change to match your gender identity, Montana treats it more privately: A name change to align with gender identity uses the ordinary adult petition, which normally requires four weeks of newspaper publication; you can file the Sealed Record (safety) packet under MCA 27-31-201 to waive publication and seal the file when public notice would put your safety at risk..

After your order: who to notify

The name change isn't finished at the courthouse. Update Social Security first, then your Montana driver's license, then your passport — in that order, because each one checks the last.

Who-to-notify guide →Build my checklist →See my timeline →

Montana name change: FAQ

How much does a name change cost in Montana?

An adult name change in Montana costs about $170, filed in the Montana District Court (of the county where you reside). About $120 to file the petition plus a separate $50 judgment fee due when the order is signed; the newspaper publication cost (often $50–$150+) is additional and not part of the court fee. Confirm the exact filing fee with your county court clerk.. Marriage and divorce name changes have no separate court fee.

Do I have to publish a name change in a newspaper in Montana?

Yes. In Montana, an adult name-change petition requires publishing a legal notice in a newspaper. Under MCA 27-31-201 the notice of hearing must be published once a week for four successive weeks in a newspaper in the county (or posted in three public places for four weeks if no newspaper is printed there). Publication can be waived and the record sealed if you show your safety is at risk.

How long does a name change take in Montana?

A court name change in Montana typically takes 6–12 weeks from filing to a signed order. After that, updating Social Security takes about 7–10 business days and a passport 4–6 weeks.

Which court handles name changes in Montana?

Adult name changes in Montana are handled by the Montana District Court (of the county where you reside). You file in district court in the county where you live.

What do I do after my name change is approved in Montana?

Update Social Security first (free, Form SS-5), then your Montana driver's license, then your US passport, and finally banks, employer, and insurance. Use our Who-To-Notify Checklist to order every account you hold.

Sources

Every fee, court, rule, and form on this page traces to an official government source:

See our verification methodology and themaster source list.

Last verified July 16, 2026Reviewed by the Name Change Atlas Editorial Team against official court and .gov sources.

We're re-confirming some fee details for this state against the county court. Always confirm the exact current fee with your court clerk before you file.